Bantam court sees high-profile cases continued, one woman sentenced

LITCHFIED -- Several high-profile cases on the docket in Litchfield Superior Court were continued, but one Torrington woman was sentenced on a probation violation as well.

Brittany Blanchette was sentenced to six months in prison, continued after 45 days, on a probation violation. Blanchette was on probation from a March 13 conviction for second-degree breach of peace, and was sentenced to one year of probation. However, Blanchette missed multiple appointments with her probation officer, as well as failing to appear for substance abuse evaluation and treatment. Once released from prison, Blanchette will continue to serve out her existing probation.

A pair of brothers arrested after a speeding stop turned into a narcotics bust had their cases continued. James and Michael Bonhotel, who were arrested after a state trooper reported discovering heroin secreted in their rectums, entered not guilty pleas on all counts. James Bonhotel had his case continued to July 24, while Michael Bonhotel had his case continued to July 31.

The brothers were stopped after allegedly exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles per hour on Route 63 in Goshen, but after Michael Bonhotel purportedly could not provide his insurance or registration, the trooper initiated a more thorough search. James Bonhotel reportedly provided a false name, while Michael Bonhotel handed over his own identification.

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Both brothers were taken back to Troop B's barracks in North Canaan, where a strip search of James Bonhotel reportedly revealed 10 bags of heroin "with fecal matter on the outside" in his pocket. Michael Bonhotel purportedly resisted the search, but eventually complied. The trooper conducting the search, according to the report, "immediately identified an object protruding from between Michael's butt cheeks."

This object was allegedly two bundles of heroin, weighing 1.09 ounces. Subsequently, Michael Bonhotel was charged with illegal sale of drugs, speeding, failure to carry registration, third-degree hindering prosecution, interfering with an officer and possession of narcotics, while James Bonhotel was charged with interfering with an officer, use of drug paraphernalia, possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell.

Another pair of defendants implicated in crimes in the northwest corner of the state had their cases continued. Lucas Ieronimo and Daniel Nyenhuis, who were arrested after allegedly attempting to rob a Salisbury man at gunpoint, had their cases continued to July 20.

Ieronimo and Nyenhuis were arrested after allegedly sticking up a Salisbury man before fleeing on Route 44. Nyenhuis was charged with was charged with reckless driving, disobeying an officer's signal, carrying a pistol without a permit, using a firearm in a Class A, B or C felony, fifth-degree larceny, first-degree robbery and interfering with an officer. Ieronimo was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, illegally carrying weapons in a vehicle, using a firearm in a Class A, B or C felony, fifth-degree larceny, first-degree robbery, interfering with an officer and third-degree assault. However, the case remained open, and additional charges landed on not only Ieronimo and Nyenhuis, but the victim in the alleged robbery.

Ieronimo was charged with charged with possession of over one kilogram of marijuana and possession with intent to sell as a result of the robbery. State police served Ieronimo with the warrant at a previous court appearance, while Nyenhuis was also charged with selling a controlled substance and selling illegal drugs. The victim in the robbery, Tyler Kilventon, was charged with illegal sale of a controlled substance by a non-drug dependent person. This case is pending in Litchfield Superior Court, and Kilventon's next scheduled appearance is July 27.

Linda Gardner, who was charged with arson after allegedly attempting to burn her apartment down, had her case continued to August 31. Gardner was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for the purposes of entering a plea on charges of first-degree arson, second-degree breach of peace, first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree reckless endangerment.

However, Gardner was institutionalized after a May 4 court appearance. Gardner's attorney, a public defender, argued that the 62-year-old Torrington woman was unable to understand her situation in court, and that proceeding with the case would be inappropriate. Gardner was referred to the Whiting Forensic Institute in Middletown following the hearing.